Jews all over the world to mark Remembrance, Independence days
Jewish communities from London to Baku will honor Israel's fallen with traditional ceremonies, then celebrate country's 61st anniversary with barbeques, torch-lighting and even bar-hopping. 'We want the Jews here to understand what it's like to be a typical Israeli,' Jewish Agency envoy in Auckland says
Israelis and Jews all over the world will be attending events marking Israel's Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day (Tuesday) and the Jewish state's 61st Independence Day (Wednesday).
David Eckstein (24), a Bnei Akiva emissary in Auckland, New Zealand told Ynet on Sunday that "there are about 4,000 Jews here; many of them are former Israelis or the sons and daughters expatriates, and they want to be exposed to Israel's culture at its best.
"On Independence Day we plan to help them get a sense of what it is to be a typical Israeli. We've organized a big event; we'll set up falafel and hummus stands and have a barbeque, while the songs of Israeli singers Eyal Golan, Rita, Shlomo Artzi and the band Dag Nahash will be playing in the background," he said.
Remembrance Day ceremony in New Zealand last year (Archive photo: Aviv Alshich)
Eckstein said a celebratory prayer session is set to take place at Auckland's synagogue, after which participants will sing Israeli songs. In the evening, he said, youngsters will go bar-hopping in the city, "because what better way is there to celebrate?"
One the eve of Remembrance Day the local Jewish community will hold a traditional ceremony, which will also honor the fallen soldiers of New Zealand's army. "The Jewish community here is very patriotic," Eckstein said.
Aviel Zwebner (36), a Jewish Agency representative in the UK, said the local Jewish community, which, according to him numbers 250,000-300,000 people, will also mark Remembrance and Independence days, adding that the main events are set to be held in London and Manchester.
"We will hold a traditional Remembrance Day ceremony – just like in Israel – and then throw an Independence Day bash with a performance by a local Jewish stand-up comic. We expect at least 1,000 people to attend and celebrate with Israel," he said.
Manchester will host a fair in which Israeli arts and crafts, as well as other goods, will be sold.
Anti-Israel rally in Malmo (Archive photo: AFP)
Avital Beles (21), Bnei Akiva's emissary to Malmo, Sweden said the city's controversial decision to stage the Davis Cup match between Israel and Sweden in an empty arena only strengthened the local Jewish community of nearly 800. "They Jews protested and organized pro-Israel events, and now they are eagerly awaiting the Independence Day celebrations," she said.
"On Remembrance Day we are planning, along with local teenagers, a ceremony that will focus on current events, during which a woman whose son made aliyah and was killed in Jenin will speak. A day later we will mark Independence Day with the traditional torch-lighting ceremony, as they do in Mount Herzl (Jerusalem). There will also be a performance by local children and traditional dancing," she said.
Jews in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia will mark Remembrance and Independence days in a more subdued manner.
According to Gregory Brodsky, director of the Jewish Agency's South Caucasia delegation, the events will be catered mainly for adults.
Some 3,000 Jews reside in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi; 70- 80 more live in Baku, Azerbaijan, while the Armenian capital of Yerevan is home to 50-60 Jews.
"In Georgia the Jewish community is very traditional and connected to Israel; the communities in Azerbaijan and Armenia are not as connected, but are still very interested in Israel. Therefore, during this year's events we will make it a point to educate them on Israel's wars and the country's inception," Brodsky told Ynet.
